Doncic dream team: Mavericks to move for Nets star Kyrie Irving

From now until the NBA trade deadline on 10 February rumours are going to fly about some of the biggest names in basketball: Ben Simmons’ future is up in the air, Russell Westbrook is in talks with the Lakers and Ricky Rubio has to decide whether to remain with the extraordinary Cavaliers or move on while he is in his prime. Other questions to be answered include whether the Blazers will make any moves to alter their negative dynamic, will Domantas Sabonis or Myles Turner abandon the Pacers, what are the Knicks going to do and where does Kemba Walker’s future lie? One of the biggest remains: what will become of Kyrie Irving, who has been sidelined for the Nets due to New York’s covid-19 vaccination regulations.

As it stands, the Brooklyn-based franchise has not yet explored the possibility of Irving playing only road games and it seems unlikely that he will be back for the Nets any time soon, although the team is hopeful he may feature again before the end of the season. In the meantime, rumours abound that the Dallas Mavericks have asked about the possibility of a trade. According to Real GM, the Mavs are ready to offer Kristpas Porzingis as part of any deal, with Dallas keen to add another big-scorer to the roster to complement Luka Doncic, without whom the Mavs tend to struggle.

Dallas looking to Irving to complement Doncic

Full screen

Dallas are seventh in the Western Conference with a 14-13 record. They have failed to spark and the change of coach - Rick Carlisle making way for Jason Kidd – has not altered the dynamic of a team that reached the playoffs last season but lost in the first round. Doncic, with poor shooting percentages, averages 25.6 points, eight rebounds and 8.5 assists per game, but he has been suffering with injuries and conditioning issues. Dallas need to invest if they are to improve but the question remains whether the combustible Irving is the player to lead the charge.